Stripe Out and Tie Bow

A variety of tie blouses:

Pattern Description:
Misses' button-down blouse with collar and sleeve variations. Blouse with a V-neck tie, wide V-neck collar, flounces or trimmed neckline. Misses' 6-14.  I sewed a "12".

my pattern envelope:

 

I used a cotton woven that I had in my stash for nearly 3 years.

Full length view, taken by my daughter.  Please excuse the wrinkles after some car driving.

The directions were easy to follow except for attaching and finishing the ends of the sleeve cuffs. The narrow opening where the ends of the cuff "overlap" is a turned-in top-stitched hem between two reinforced points 3/4" apart which would have been better replaced by "slashed" sleeve vents and plackets.


Likes/Dislikes
I like the tie-front-pussy-bow style reminiscent of the styles from decades past. In particular with my fabric choice, I am reminded of this blouse:

http://www.etsy.com/listing/95109113/womens-vintage-60s-70s-striped-pussy-bow
I like the form-fitting silhouette of the blouse in contrary to a "sack-like" look.

The sleeves eased in to the armscyes nicely with very little excess fabric "jutting" out of the contours of the armscyes.

The only thing that I did not like were the construction of the sleeve cuffs.


Modifications/Alterations
*My typical 1" petite adjustment at the waist and narrowing of the upper back 3/8" from the center.

*Due to fabric constraints, I shortened the sleeves 1".

*Since I went down a size at the sides, I omitted the back darts.

*Steps #35-37 for attaching and finishing the sleeve cuffs eluded me at first glance. Instead, I used an inverted method from what was instructed to avoid top-stitching the cuff from the inside and second-guessing how it will look on the outside. I stitched the correct or visible side of the cuff to the wrong or non-visible side of the sleeve and finished the ends of the cuff in a 3/8" seam, right sides together, before turning them inside out. Then I turned the entire edge of the cuff to the outside (keeping the cuff folded in half lengthwise with the edges turned in, covering the seam allowance of the sleeve and cuff) and top-stitched.

Recommendation:
 I plan to use this pattern again.  There are other collar and sleeve options that I would like to try. I recommend this pattern if you are looking for a blouse pattern with lots of versatility.

After working with this fabric, I wonder why I am craving some popcorn or maybe something to eat at our local T.G.I. Friday's restaurant...

It is not one of those "quick-and-easy" gratification projects. But it is a wonderful pattern to get back to sewing blouses/shirts with front plackets and cuffs.

This pattern goes in my "definitely" pile.

First time that we encountered these at a Marshall's store dressing room: "Possibly, Definitely, Tomorrow" hooks